Moto E (2015) vs Moto G 4G (2015): What’s the difference?

We compare this year’s brand new Moto E and Moto G 4G, two bargainous phones that now pack LTE support and some great features for a price you can’t argue with. Check out our full comparison review to see what the difference is and which is best for you…

At a glance

Phone

Motorola Moto E (2015)

Motorola Moto G 4G (2015)

Price

£109

£159

Screen size

4.5-inches

5-inches

Screen resolution

540×960 (245ppi)

720×1280 (295ppi)

Processor

1.2GHz Snapdragon 410

1.2GHz Snapdragon 400

RAM

1GB

1GB

Storage

8GB + microSD

16GB + microSD

LTE

Yes

Yes

Rear camera

5-megapixel, autofocus

8-megapixel, autofocus, flash

Front camera

VGA

2-megapixel

Design

The Moto E and Moto G enjoy similar chunky designs, but there are a few key differences. Most obvious is the size difference. The Moto G is a 5-inch palm-filler which can just about be used one-handed, while the Moto E is a dinky 4.5-incher that slips easily into pretty much any pocket and is a breeze to operate with just one mitt.

Both phones can be customised and personalised too, but in different ways. The Moto G 4G’s entire back plate lifts off and can be replaced with one of a number of bright and bold colours, to make it stand out in a crowd. However, the Moto E limits customisation to a removeable edge, which again can be replaced with something a bit more vibrant.

Media and entertainment

If you’re after a serious portable media machine, the Moto G 4G is your best bet. The screen is more spacious and also sports a denser HD resolution (720p) so your movies look nice and crisp, while colours are a little more vibrant.

The new Moto E has a smaller 4.5-inch screen that misses the HD visuals of its bigger brother. However, although the panel isn’t as sharp or as colourful, it’s still bright and perfectly fine for everyday tasks.

The Moto G 4G has another advantage with its dual front-facing speakers, which pump out a surprisingly crisp and clear sound. The Moto E makes do with a mono speaker and it’s commendable for a budget offering, and thankfully also points at your face.

With the Moto G you also get marginally more storage (16GB as opposed to 8GB), but both phones pack microSD memory card slots so you can easily carry around a massive collection of music, movies or whatever.

Battery life

Both phones pack non-removeable 2,390mAh batteries, which give respectably long life between charges. We found we managed a full day and a half of use with the Moto E before it died and we’re expecting the same result from the Moto G 4G.

You can also stream video for almost seven hours per charge, a result that’s happily above average.

Cameras

The Moto G 4G packs the better camera tech, an 8-megapixel snapper that proves dependable in everyday situations. Photos are sharper than those taken on the Moto E, which lack detail and often have a ‘hazy’ quality out of natural light.

The Moto G also boasts an LED flash on the back, something lacking on the Moto E. So if you’re always snapping your mates in the club, the Moto G 4G is the handset to stump up for.

Still, both phones enjoy a simple camera interface which is basically tap-to-shoot. And you can load up the camera on both the Moto E and Moto G by flicking your wrist twice, even when the handsets are hibernating, which is a great way to quickly take a shot.

Verdict

If you’re planning on watching a lot of movies on the go (a good reason to have that 4G), or taking a lot of snaps, then you might want to consider spending the extra £50 on the Moto G 4G. The spacious HD screen and 8-megapixel camera are the biggest upgrades over the Moto E, which is better suited to those after simple, compact handsets.

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